WINFIELD, Kan. — The University of Saint Mary emerged victorious over the Builders, 3-1. Saint Mary (9-7-1, 7-5-0) capitalized on well-coordinated attacks to seal the win, while the Moundbuilders (4-9-4, 4-4-4) fought to stay in contention.

The action started early, with Saint Mary forward Nanako Hallier striking first in the 10th minute. Her goal set the tone for the opening half, putting the pressure on Southwestern's defense and forcing the Moundbuilders to respond. Southwestern found their answer at 24:51, as Teagan Smith, assisted by Jordan Proscia, scored the equalizer to make it 1-1.

However, USM regained momentum before halftime, with Rebecca Lord scoring in the 39th minute, putting Saint Mary back in front with a 2-1 lead.

The second half saw an aggressive push from both teams. Southwestern increased their offensive efforts, with multiple shots on goal, testing the Saint Mary defense and keeping goalkeeper Marisol Vargas active. Southwestern's best opportunities came in the 49th and 52nd minutes, with Smith and Natalie Belanger firing strong shots that required precise saves from Vargas. Meanwhile, Saint Mary continued to apply pressure, and their persistence paid off in the 78th minute when midfielder Nieves Vazquez extended the lead to 3-1, assisted by Vargas.

Southwestern's goalkeeper Hayden Clark also had an impressive performance, making a total of eight saves throughout the match, several of which were critical in keeping the Moundbuilders within striking distance. Despite his efforts, Saint Mary's organized attacks and solid defensive plays limited Southwestern's opportunities in the final minutes.

The Moundbuilders are back in action against Kansas Wesleyan University, on Senior Night, Saturday, Nov. 2 at 4 p.m. Senior Night events will be held after the women's game and before the men's game, weather permitting.